I’ve always loved traveling around Europe. But now that I moved from the US to the Netherlands, I have even more of an excuse to explore the continent.
Over the years, I’ve checked 19 European countries off my bucket list. Here are five of my favorite cities to visit.
Salzburg, Austria, offers a perfect mix of history and movie nostalgia.
I’ll admit, I was originally pulled toward Salzburg, Austria, because I wanted to see the fountain from “The Sound of Music” (and it didn’t disappoint).
However, I found the city offers so much more. My husband and I stumbled upon Mozart’s childhood home, explored the sprawling Fortress Hohensalzburg that towers over the city, and had a pretzel and beer at the Stiegl brewery.
I wasn’t quite done with my personal “The Sound of Music” tour, though, so we also visited the Felsenreitschule Amphitheatre — the stone venue where the von Trapp family sings in the film. It’s also where the Salzburg Music Festival is hosted every summer.
I learned so much during my time in Budapest.
During my visit to Budapest, one of my favorite activities was exploring Margaret Island, a 1.6-mile-long stretch of land that has everything from swimming pools to an outdoor theater.
After the sun went down, I loved visiting the Musical Fountain, where I caught a colorful water and light show complete with music. It looked like something straight out of the movie “Fantasia.”
I also recommend heading to some of the museums and memorials to learn more about some of the darker chapters in Budapest’s history. These experiences were emotional but I learned a lot.
For example, I held back tears while touring the House of Terror museum, which commemorates victims of Hungary’s fascist and communist dictatorships.
Visiting the haunting “Shoes on the Danube Bank” memorial — which honors the Jewish victims who were shot into the Danube by members of the Arrow Cross Party — was also a moving and worthwhile experience.
Florence is the perfect Italian getaway.
I love Florence because, in my opinion, the city feels like a giant open-air museum. You turn one corner, and you’re face-to-face with the iconic Duomo. Go a few more blocks and duck into an unassuming museum and you’re greeted by Michelangelo’s 17-foot-tall David statue.
Although the art museums in Florence are unmatched, my favorite experience was grabbing a pistachio cannoli as big as my forearm, crossing the bridge to Piazzale Michelangelo, and soaking up the view under the warm Italian sun.
Another great thing about Florence? Its proximity to the smaller Italian cities that are equally worth a visit, like Siena, Pisa, and Vinci.
Meandering around Bath, England, makes me feel like Georgian royalty.
If I’m going to England, I’m going to make every effort to hop on a train to Bath. Walking around blocks filled with honey-colored limestone buildings really does feel like you’ve been transported into a Jane Austen novel.
Despite being a smaller city, I’ve never had difficulty finding something to do. Of course, there’s the tour of the beautifully preserved 2000-year-old Roman baths.
Then there’s my favorite spot in town: the Royal Crescent, a row of 30 terraced houses that has been featured in “Bridgerton” and several “Persuasion” adaptations. I particularly enjoyed touring the No. 1 Royal Crescent Museum, which is decorated as if a Georgian family still lives there.
But honestly, when I go to Bath, I don’t want to pack my schedule. I want to amble around, sit in a park, or enjoy a cup of tea with a scone and clotted cream.
Barcelona won me over with its tapas and architecture.
I visited Barcelona during my first trip to Spain. At the time, I knew very little about Spanish history, including architect Antoni Gaudí. However, I felt like he was an invisible host throughout the city, with the buildings he designed peppered all around.
One of his greatest works of art, however, is the Sagrada Família — the famous basilica that was recently completed after 144 years of construction. Touring its towers was a highlight of my trip.
But what really stuck with me (physically and symbolically) was the cuisine in Barcelona. From the simple pa amb tomàquet (bread with olive oil and tomatoes) to pan-fried Padrón peppers, I found myself constantly on the hunt for my next mini-meal.
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